Tamil Tigers on Tuesday went on a shooting rampage,killing 17 Tamil civilians and wounded 69 others apparently to stop them from fleeing as thousands of refugees streamed out of Sri Lanka’s war zone in the Wanni region for safer places.

Survivors of the attack who arrived at a military position narrated how Tigers fired on them as they tried to cross the frontlines,Army spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.

They were part of a group of about 1,000 civilians who bought these 17 bodies,and said the LTTE cadres opened fire to stop them seeking shelter with the security forces,he added.

Nanayakkara said the incident happened at around 6 to 7 clock in the morning in Udayarkattu area in Pudukudiyyrippu in the northern Wanni region. This was the second major attempt by the Tigers to stop the Tamil civilians,who international agencies believe are being held as human shields.